Not a good work environment. During my time with L-3, I was constantly micromanaged and bullied. Each time I requested to use earned time off due to health reasons, I was interrogated. I had to report to my supervisor when I arrived at work, when I left for lunch, when I arrived from lunch, and when I left for home. One day I was off site and needed to purchase some CD's for the project. I didn't report it to my supervisor and was serious chastised when he found out. I could go on, but won't.

I have been working at L-3 Communications as a contractor (less than a year)

Pros

Pay was good $100/hour. Hiring was through the company's own website posted short term requirements (this was the MPRI division) and quickly set up a call back from the project manager putting the team together.

Cons

You are technically an independent contractor, billing hours through the company. There was more supervisory oversight than "independence". Lots of contracts to sign and fax/email to the HR office in Virginia (sixty plus pages).

Lots of the jobs require a security clearance and sometimes the language wasn't clear (ie. "cleared for NATO Secret" just meant you had an active US Secret clearance.

Filing travel expense voucher was a hassle and you needed to pay for weeks of hotel bills before the voucher was paid.

Vast majority of employees and all of the supervisors were former military, so you need to adapt to that culture. Good fit with the clients though.

Strongly supports education and training. During my time there I was able to complete a Bachlors and (2) Master degrees paid for mostly by the company.

Cons

Lack of diversity in management and leadership roles. During my 10 years there I've only seen (2) manager at the Program Manager level and up who were minorities out of hundreds of employees. The goog old boys network is alive and we'll at this company, especially in the Chantilly, VA office.

Advice to ManagementAdvice

Senior Management should practice what they preach and offer more opportunities for everyone not just the good old boys. There are some outstanding well educated minorities in the company who could just a good a job than the non minorities who often time are promoted through the ranks in no time at all